Double-Sided Coaster

So I started making hotpads that were nice and thick and double-sided (both sides made at the same time). That was fun, but I wanted to see if the technique could be applied in the round. I looked for a tutorial or pattern but didn't find one. I'm sure there's one out there somewhere I just didn't find it. Sooo... I just went to work and came up with my own. I applied a few new tricks that I learned. I used an invisible join after each round and then I started the new round by wrapping the yarn around the hook and doing a DC from the bottom up so that I didn't have to start by chaining 2. I think that makes them look nicer. 

The coaster pictured below was my practice one. It was made using super cheap really scratchy acrylic yarn :) I have to keep that stuff around to practice on and also because the girls LOVE to make things with yarn :). Now that I know what to do I'll make some more nicer looking coasters and post those pictures as soon as I can get them done. 

Of course you don't have to stop at coaster size. You can do a few more rounds and have a some nice thick hot pads or whatever else. 

I'm not sure I could properly explain what I did in just writing so I'm going to take some pictures to go along with this pattern. It might take a couple of days, but I'll get the pattern up for anyone that wants to try one out for themselves. 

Crochet Rainbow Hat - Toddler Size

This is the toddler sized version of the rainbow hat. And one of the toddlers wearing it. She's three. It fits both her and the five year old just perfectly. 

The instructions for the Newborn size are Here
Use a P (10.00mm) hook and worsted weight yarn

R 1: (Red)  10 HDC into a ring
R 2: (Red)  2 HDC in each stitch around (20hdc)
R 3: (Orange) [1 hdc, 2 hdc] around  (30 hdc)
R 4: (Orange) 1 hdc in each (30 sts)
R 5- 6: (Yellow) 1 hdc in each (30 sts)
R 7-8: (Green) 1 hdc in each (30 sts)
R 9 - 10: ( Blue) 1 hdc in each (30 sts)
R 11-12: ( Purple) 1 hdc in each (30 sts)
R 13 - 14: (White) 1 hdc in each (30 sts)

When you get to the end of row 14,  chain 4, skip a stitch, slip stitch in the next. Do this all the way around twice. On the second time around you'll be slip stitching into the previously skipped stitches.
Then ch 3 and slip stitch onto each stitch post in row 14. Do that all the way around (no skipping this time).
Then ch 3 and slip stitch onto each stitch post on row 13. Do that all the way around also.
Fasten off and weave in all your loose ends.


If you would like one made for you, then go to my Etsy store. I'll be making them to order.

This pattern and all photos are owned by me and are not to be reproduced in any way without permission. Never sell this pattern. It's intended to be free. Feel free to sell any hats you make from this pattern, but please acknowledge the creator of the pattern and add a link to this website. Thanks

Crochet Rainbow on a cloud hat

One of my daughters requested a rainbow hat with a cloud. So this is what I came up with.

 It turned out pretty cute so I whipped up a newborn sized one just to see if I could. I wanted to make it nice and airy since we're heading into spring and summer and don't need the thick winter hats anymore. I think I might attach a butterfly or a flower just to make it a little more "springish". 

This is what I did for the newborn size. 
The toddler size is Here

I used one strand worseted weight yarn and an N hook. I know that the yarn and hook combo might not seem right, but that's what gives it the "airyness". If you use more than one strand you'll end up with a thicker, more tightly crocheted hat. It won't have all those holes in it for the breeze to blow through : )
R1: (red) 10 DC into a magic ring
R2: (red) 2 DC into every DC. You'll have 20 sts total
R3: (Orange) [1 DC in the first and 2 DC in the second] repeat all the way around. You'll have 30 sts total. 
R4: (Yellow) 1 DC into every DC. (30 sts)
R5: (Green) 1 DC into every DC. (30 sts )
R6: (Blue) 1 DC into every DC. (30 sts )
R7: (Purple) 1 DC into every DC. (30 sts )
R8: (White) I HDC into every DC all the way around and then Ch 4, skip a stitch, slip stitch. Then Ch 4 again, skip a stitch, slip stitch. You should be slip stitching into every other stitch all the way around. Then go around again but this time slip stitch into the skipped stitches. (I hope that makes sense. If not let me know and I'll try to take some pictures or something.) Then Ch 3 and slip stich onto the post of the Hdc. Ch 3 again and slip stitch onto next post. Do that all the way around then fasten off. Of course you could go around with the chaining and slip stitching as much as you'd like to get the fluffiness that you want from your cloud. 

This is the first pattern I've tried to write for other people to read so If you find that it's lacking in something, just let me know and I'll try to fix it. 
Thanks and I hope there will be many cute rainbow hats out there. 

If you would like one made for you, then go to my Etsy store. I'll be making them to order.

This pattern and all photos are owned by me and are not to be reproduced in any way without permission. Never sell this pattern. It's intended to be free. Feel free to sell any hats you make from this pattern, but please acknowledge the creator of the pattern and add a link to this website. Thanks

More Worms!!

Even though its been a few years, my girls still LOVE worms. They pull them out of the ground and try to organize them into families. They even make little houses for them. They beg and beg and beg to keep them in the house. You just wouldn't believe all the tears that flow when a poor little worm accidentally gets pulled apart. I sure like my girls. They always keep me smiling.

This batch of worms was discovered while helping Grandma and Grandpa plant flowers. They had them out on the table and separated into two groups: the parents, and the kids. They played house with those poor little guys for a long time before finally returning them to the Earth.